A warning has been issued over Dubai chocolate and similar products amid concerns for customer safety, particularly for people with allergies.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) raised the alarm on June 12 after identifying imported chocolate products that may not meet UK food safety laws. The watchdog warned that some items could contain banned additives or incorrectly labelled allergens.

Some products may have been intended for sale outside the UK and may fail to comply with local regulations. The FSA noted that these items might not accurately declare allergens, posing a serious health risk to vulnerable consumers.

Professor Robin May, chief scientific advisor to the FSA, said: “The vast majority of food in the UK is safe, but some imported Dubai-style chocolate products don’t meet our standards and could be a food safety risk, especially for consumers with allergies.”

An investigation is underway. The FSA is currently sampling and surveying products across the market to understand how widespread the issue is.

They are also working alongside allergy charities to raise awareness. Although the agency said that “most” of the Dubai chocolates found in UK shops are safe, it urged customers to remain cautious.

Professor May added: “If you are looking to buy Dubai-style chocolate, we advise sticking with trusted retailers, like the ones you’d use for your weekly shop, as products are more likely to be made for UK consumers and so are safe to eat.

“We advise you do not buy the product unless you’re certain it’s intended for sale here.” Products that do not comply with the UK’s food safety laws should be reported to local authorities.

Customers are urged not to eat anything they’re unsure about. The FSA said any product that fails to meet legal requirements should be removed from sale “as swiftly as possible”.

UK food labelling law requires that packaging clearly highlights any of 14 allergens. These must be visible in the ingredients list and, where appropriate, feature precautionary labelling such as “may contain”.

This includes a clearly labelled English description with the following information:

  • The name of the food, e.g. milk chocolate with pistachio paste filling.
  • A list of ingredients, with allergens emphasised.
  • The weight of the food in grams.
  • A best-before or use-by date.
  • The name and address of the UK or EU business responsible for the product information. If the food is not from the UK or EU, the name and address of the importer must be included.

Tree nuts, including pistachios, are among the allergens that must be declared. Around 0.5% of UK adults are affected by tree nut allergies.

Reactions can begin within minutes or take up to two hours. In severe cases, exposure can lead to life-threatening anaphylaxis. Consumers can find guidance on how to read labels and stay safe at food.gov.uk.